My Cool New Laptop

by Heather Klassen

“Miranda, your new laptop is so cool,” a voice behind me says.

I look up to find Rebecca and Bria hovering over my shoulder, staring at my screen.

“Thanks,” I reply. “I need to go find a book in the stacks. I’ll be back.”

“Can we use it while you’re gone?” Bria asks.

It would be smart to have someone keep an eye on it while I’m gone, I think. And I know I can totally trust Rebecca and Bria.

“Sure,” I agree. “But you do know that you can only use it for schoolwork. If you get caught using it for anything else, we’d all be in trouble.”

“No problem,” Rebecca assures me. “We need to look up some stuff for Euro History anyway.”

Rebecca and Bria settle in at my place while I head into the stacks. I cruise up and down the aisles, searching for that elusive call number. Finally, I locate the book and head back to my table.

But instead of finding Rebecca and Bria peering at my screen, I see Mr. Rybak, the librarian, frowning at my computer.

I glance quickly around the library and spot Rebecca and Bria at another table, pretending not to watch me.

Mr. Rybak looks up. “Miranda, is this your computer?” he asks.

I nod, then walk around to the other side of the table so I’m facing my screen along with Mr. Rybak.

“I don’t believe MySpace can help you in any way with your schoolwork,” Mr. Rybak tells me.

I stare at the screen, at the MySpace page Rebecca and Bria were obviously visiting when they saw Mr. Rybak heading this way. Instead of exiting out, they obviously just walked away—leaving me to get in trouble alone.

“But I . . . I,” I stammer, hoping that Rebecca and Bria will rush over and admit to what they did. But they don’t. I glance over at them and see that they’re not even looking at me now—although I’m sure they’re listening.

“I’ll have to confiscate your computer until the end of the day, Miranda,” Mr. Rybak says. “It will be returned after you’ve done detention. Be back in the library by last bell.”

Detention! I can’t believe this. I have never ever been in trouble before. How am I going to explain this to Dad and Papa? Will this affect my record, my chances of going to college?

I glare at Rebecca and Bria before I shut my laptop and hand it to Mr. Rybak. In exchange he hands me my pink detention slip.

The rest of the afternoon passes by in an angry red blur. I am so upset by what my so-called friends did that I even find myself snarling at my other friends when they ask me what’s going on.

Last bell finds me sitting at a table in the library along with my detention mates. I stare at the clock, waiting for the minutes to tick by so this humiliation will end, and I can get my laptop back and get out of here.

And as I sit, I think about Rebecca and Bria. I can’t believe they used me like that—lied to me, broke the rules, and then left me to take the blame. I don’t know that I will ever consider Rebecca and Bria my friends again. I don’t know if I will ever trust them again. Mixed in with my anger I have to admit that I feel hurt, too. It hurts to feel used by people you considered friends.

Finally a buzzer sounds, which must signal the end of detention, since everyone else jumps up and heads for the door. I approach the counter to retrieve my laptop.

“I’ll get it, Miranda,” Mr. Rybak says, turning toward the storeroom.

While I wait, I stare at the bulletin board behind the counter and notice a new flyer that reads, “Do you have computer skills?” I lean closer and learn that a local agency is seeking volunteers for their after-school program to teach foster kids computer skills to help them with their schoolwork. The flyer also states that most of these kids have limited access to computers, and the program has a limited supply, so they’re asking volunteers to bring their own if they can.

As I finish reading, Mr. Rybak sets my laptop down on the counter in front of me.

“Here you go, Miranda,” he says. “Let’s stick to the approved sites from now on, please.”

“I will,” I promise. Then I add, “Can I please borrow a slip of paper and a pencil?”

Mr. Rybak provides the supplies, and I jot down the address of the agency.

I have the skills, the computer, and after what I’ve gone through today, the desire to channel all this emotional energy into something positive.

I finally leave the library and, once outside, check the address on the slip of paper again. Luckily, I can walk there in a few minutes. That’s perfect, because now I’m totally ready to put this school day behind me and really looking forward to putting my cool new laptop to some totally excellent use.

 

Heather Klassen lives with her family in Edmonds,Washington. She has been writing fiction for children and teenagers for the past twenty years and has had several books and hundreds of stories published in numerous magazines and anthologies. In addition to writing, she works part-time with children. Besides her favorite hobbies of reading and spending time with her family, she is an avid swimmer, having just learned how to swim four years ago.